Clubroot, a serious soil-borne disease causes galls to form on the roots. This ultimately leads to premature death of the canola plant. It has since became a major concern for producers in Alberta, as infected plants generally resulted in yield losses and potential lost income. Sanitation and managing infected fields through crop rotation had been the only effective methods of prevention.
A healthy canola root
Clubroot-infected canola root in early stage
Clubroot-infected canola- Advanced stageDevelopment of clubroot-resistant canola:
In early 2009, a clubroot resistant and glyphosate tolerant canola hybrid has been successfully discovered, much to canola producers’ relief. Apparently, clubroot resistance exists in a few European winter canola (Brassica napus) cultivars as well as in its parental species Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea. This breakthrough discovery allowed the initial development of resistant germplasm through resistance breeding using European winter canola. To prevent this existing genetic resistance from breaking down rapidly with the emergence of newly mutated pathotypes resistance, diverse resistant genes will have to be intensively researched on. So far, non-canola quality rutabaga, B. rapa and B. oleracea have been found to be resistant to clubroot pathogens. Incorporating these genes into the canola will be the main focus in developing a long-term strategy in providing durable resistance to multiple clubroot pathogens.
If all goes well accordingly, the first hybrids with clubroot resistance will be produced in Chile during 2008/09 summer season. The first hybrid commercial seed would possibly be available in 2011.
Brassica napus
Clubroot-resistant canola
Source: 2nd March 2009 Issue of Agri-News, Alberta, Agriculture and Rural Development. Article title: “Crop Health and Wellness: Genetic Advances”.
Contributed by: Cheryl Pay Xin Yue, Student No: S4179949
